LORI

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LORIPOV.
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Lori’s POV.
My pulse pounded as I stared into his blazing eyes. “I am becoming the person I want to be,” I said softly but firmly, my voice quivering only slightly. “I’m unwrapping the chains you’ve wrapped around me for so long.”
For a moment, Knight’s expression changed; pain, jealousy, and fury mingled in his eyes. Then, his face hardened. “You dare speak to me like that?” he roared, his voice rising. “After all I’ve done for you, you dare to insult me?”
I swallowed hard, unable to yell back as the memories of his commands and his controlling words washed over me. But before his anger could break through my restraint, I interjected, “I’m not here to be your puppet, Knight. I’m not your doll. I’m becoming someone new.”
His eyes flickered, the raw hurt mixing with anger. “You think you can just walk away and reinvent yourself?” he spat. “I built you, Lori! I raised you in my world. And now you reject me?”
I took another step back, feeling every word strike like a blow. “No, I reject the chains you’ve imposed on me. I’m becoming who I truly am,” I said, voice quivering with determination.
Knight’s voice trembled with rage as he bellowed, “You will always be mine, Lori! I won’t let you go so easily!” His words were laced with both authority and the unmistakable sting of jealousy. At that moment, I could see the pain in his eyes laced with wounded pride and a burning desire to reclaim what he thought was rightfully his.
I stood my ground, refusing to be cowed by his outburst. “You have no right to hold me captive anymore,” I said softly, though every syllable rang with the truth I had fought so hard to embrace.
Without any more words, I dashed out of his presence back to my room. I entered and sat down on the chair, my mind reeling so fast. Nicole’s short laughter drew my attention to her.
” I have finally confronted him,” I spoke, looking down and away. Even though my motive was to save myself, I still felt somehow embarrassed.
Nicole’s eyes widened, a mixture of shock and delight dancing in them. “Really?” she asked, her tone laced with a hint of excitement. “And how did he take it?”
I lowered my gaze, recalling the searing look in his eyes, the hurt, the jealousy, the anger that had burned so fiercely in that brief moment. “He yelled at me, Nicole,” I admitted. “I heard him say things about how I’m his property… his doll. And he looked at me as though I were nothing more than an object he could never let go.”
Nicole reached out and gently squeezed my hand. “Oh, Lori,” she murmured softly. “I’m so proud of you. Listen, maybe this is your chance. You should give Santorini a chance just enough to make Knight jealous. Let him chase you back. Sometimes, the best revenge is to show that you can stand on your own.”
I frowned, uncertain. “You really think that could work? That if I let Santorini treat me like the princess he says I could be… it might force Knight to confront what he’s lost?”
Nicole nodded emphatically. “Absolutely. Sometimes you have to let the person who controls you see that you can be cherished by someone who truly values you. And trust me, Knight’s jealousy will make him realize you’re not his plaything anymore.”
I sighed, conflicted but resolute. “I want to be free, Nicole. But I also want him to feel the sting of what he’s done. To see that I’m worth more than he ever gave me credit for.”
Nicole smiled, her eyes alight with mischief and hope. “Then do it, Lori. Embrace this new life, and let Santorini show you what true respect and love can be. And if it makes Knight chase you back, then maybe you’ll finally see him for who he really is.”
Her words echoed in my heart. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for a full reversal if letting someone else care for me would be enough to break Knight’s hold, but the possibility of reclaiming my power, of living life on my own terms, was too tantalizing to ignore.
“Maybe you’re right,” I said softly. “Maybe it’s time to let someone else show me what it means to be cherished.”
Nicole’s smile deepened. “That’s the spirit, Lori. You deserve to be happy. And if that means making Knight jealous enough to chase after you like a lost puppy, so be it.”
I nodded, feeling both the sting of past wounds and the promise of a brighter future intermingling within me.
That evening, as I walked through the grand ballroom with Santorini at my side, I could feel the eyes of the elite on us. Whispers and glances followed our every move.
It wasn’t long before I saw Knight standing at the edge of the room, his face an unreadable mask of fury and regret. His eyes burned with a fire that I had never seen before, and for a moment, I wondered if he would finally make his move.
Before I could ponder further, Santorini leaned in, his voice laced with a pang of warmth. “Lori, you look so enchanting tonight,” he said softly, his hand resting gently on the small of my back. “It’s as if you were born to dazzle.”
I smiled a hint of mischief in my eyes. “Thank you,” I replied, though part of me wondered if this display was meant to be a silent challenge.
Santorini turned slightly toward Knight, a smirk dancing on his lips. “You know,” he mused, lifting his glass in a lazy toast, “I have to say, I truly admire a real gem when I see one.”
He turned to me with an easy charm, his fingers lightly tracing circles against my lower back. “And Lori here… she’s nothing short of exquisite.”
I felt Knight’s body stiffen from across the room. His jaw clenched, and his grip on his drink tightened until his knuckles turned white. He took a step closer, his face an unreadable mask, though his fury was evident in the storm brewing in his gaze.
Then, with an exhale, he scoffed. “A gem?” His voice was sharp, laced with disdain. “You must be mistaken. She’s nothing more than a low-life girl, hardly worthy of such praise.”